February 23, 2008 - 6:46pm
Kean seeks budget cuts
By EditorSenate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. says that comments by a senior Democratic legislator, Raymond Lesniak, suggesting that Gov. Jon Corzine’s toll hike plan is dead, means the state should look for a budget that doesn’t rely on revenues from toll increases.
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“Prominent Democrat Senators have now pronounced as DOA in the Senate any gas tax increase, any toll increases for debt, and now the Governor's ill advised and quite likely unconstitutional PBC. It's clear that the members of his own party are now following of the lead of republicans in the legislature in rejecting the Governor's vision,” Kean said in a statement released today.
“Republican Senators are ready to move forward forging a State budget that cuts spending without taking more from the pockets of working families. During his state of the state message, the Governor spoke of matching expenses to recurring revenues,” Kean said. “The Governor’s actions must match his rhetoric. He must seek real substantive cuts across the board.”
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Quote of the Day
July 6, 2008
"I do not." -- James Laurie, an 18-year-old Brookdale Community College student, asked if he knew who Dick Zimmer was.
-Star-Ledger, 07/06/08
Recent Press Releases
- Jul 4 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Trump wonders why Corzine left the Senate ― CHARLES STILE
Bob Torricelli is Mad at the Big, 'Mean' Bergen Record― THE MEDIA MOB
Sweeney-Buono alliance shakes up N.J. Senate― JONATHAN TAMARI
Stile: Pay to play helped to quell party insurgents ― CHARLES STILE
Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker at Midpoint ― DICK BENFIELD
MUCHAS MARGARITAS― ANDY UNANUE
NJ Economic Growth chief leaves office― Gary Rose
Candidates spend plenty of their money― Philadelphia Inquirer
News anchor sizing up run for governor― Star-Ledger
Political parties get right down to business― Daily Record
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Getting Something Big Done Now
There is no reason why the legislature can't right now pass the two constitutional amendments on borrowing and spending. These proposals are part of the Corzine plan and have been part of the GOP's platform for years. This should be a no-brainer in this environment.
Minority "Leader"
I like some of Tom Kean Jr.'s policy stands, including his commitment to a clean environment, but he has shown an utter lack of leadership quality with Corzine's financial restructuring plan. In a recent interview with Steve Adubato, Kean Jr. couldn't list a single alternative to Corzine's toll hike proposal, only that he was opposed to Corzine's plan. Judging from recent quotations, like the one above, Kean Jr. is more interested in soundbytes than real solutions to the state's problems. At least Lance didn't usually politicize such matters, even if he wasn't particularly effective. Politickernj recently ran an article on Kean Jr. where they said that maybe he wasn't the same person who ran and hid in an Atlantic City elevator rather than face questions; judging from his lack of leadership and promotion of alternative policies during the recent financial debate, Kean Jr. is still that same person.
Kean
He's a JOKE like you 123456789992418756589665
Martin Please!
The toll fiasco is a joke. Kean is right cut the spending and the fat out of the budget. I will give Corzine credit we should eliminate the Departments of Personnel, Commerce and Agriculture. But we should also cut the State work force in half and root our duplications of service.
Corzine needs to hear the people's message loud and clear streamline State Government and cut out the fat.
Idea worth considering
Here is an idea that may be worth considering for Kean. I am all for cutting government waste, duplicative programs, and general useless spending. Why doesn't he reduce the state expenditures for paying teachers by one? Obviously, there is an "educator" on this site constantly who apparently does not have enough work to do. Talk about trimming the fat in a bloated, wasteful state budget. There is one place to start.
Martin the Moron - Nero the Dead
!!!! Garbage In Garbage Out !!!!
Maybe we should just CUT YOU……….